Beards Might Be for Fighting

[Raissermesser]

Seriously: There's some research that beards might offer come protection to punches to the jaw.

Did men's beards evolve to absorb a punch to the jaw?

Thick facial hair could cushion the wearer's face

www.livescience.com

 

[Tedolph]

A beard will increase friction more likely resulting in a cut or tear.

 

[Whiterook]

Pain avoidance is practical in my view. Shaving with a flint or bronze knife can't be fun. Keeps your face warm in the winter too.

 

[FarmerTan]

Kinda like a haircut should be long enough to protect yer scalp but too short to get a good grasp on.

 

[Seraphim]

A beard will increase friction more likely resulting in a cut or tear.

As a bald man, I can say that the likelihood of scrapes has greatly increased with the lack of hair on my head. Hair does help.

 

[simon1]

Pain avoidance is practical in my view. Shaving with a flint or bronze knife can't be fun. Keeps your face warm in the winter too.

And in the summer, when the wind blows, it acts like a fan.

 

[Doc4]

Chuck Norris = beard



Case closed.

 

[FarmerTan]

Chuck Norris = beard



Case closed.

Amen.

 

[DocPapi]

Chuck Norris = beard



Case closed.

Chuck Norris doesn't use a razor to shave his whiskers...he uses his whiskers to sharpen the razor.

 

[MrLara]

After watching many ufc fights, I can say that beards don't help fighters from getting KO'd.

 

[Juanmosey]

Smokin' Joe.

 

[Dave-the-rave]

Might help if ya get slapped by a girl.

 

[Doc4]

 

[Whiterook]

All the best generals in the war of northern agression had beards.

 

[Doc4]

... imagine if he had a whole beard?!?

 

[StillShaving]

I think beards are mainly for being outdoors in the elements. Providing an extra layer of protection against the cold or heat or sunburn or bugs (mosquitos!).

I don't think beard hair absorbs enough energy from a punch to matter. But I do think body hair (face, arms, legs) provides at least two additional benefits beyond weather protection. One is to extend the sense of touch, providing an "early" warning system that something is there and about to touch the skin, much like the whiskers on a cat. Second they are nature's ball bearings, providing a way for things to more easily deflect and roll off the skin surface; the hair may tear out and sacrifice itself, but minimizing friction and direct contact to avoid even worse damage would provide a lot of benefit.

 

[oc_in_fw]

All the best generals in the war of northern agression had beards.

You mean the War of Southern Treason?

 

[Dave-the-rave]

I'm sensing some fighting talk.

 

[Doc4]

 

[RookieGuy]

My beard offers bug protection on my motorcycle. I have to level up to get the wind upgrade though.